essays & editorials
Please…SHUT UP!
Doug Davis, Emmett Roch and Bill Lewis jamming at Luckenbach, TX
One of my favorite things in this world are jam sessions. I’m very lucky my husband is a musician and I get to go to plenty of them. I don’t care which country or what place they take place in, I enjoy them all. I think it’s because musicians are more relaxed in jam sessions than they are in concerts. If they play for free, they don’t have to make the singer happy and they play some amazing things they wouldn’t normally be playing. They can be themselves, and I enjoy that feeling of freedom that floats through the air with the music.
Did I mention that musicians don’t get paid to jam? I always feel very fortunate to be at a jam session because they are not getting paid to entertain me, they’re doing it because they want to. I always thought everyone should feel honored to be listening, but that’s not always true.
Unfortunately, sometimes there are people present that don’t give a shit if there are musicians playing. They talk above the music, laugh as loud as they can and won’t let other people hear the words to a song, or that pretty mandolin ride, or even the jokes musicians tell between songs. Why don’t they go outside to talk and go back to the jam when they’re finished, and show the musicians some respect? I don’t know…but to all of them:
Please, SHUT UP!!!
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In any social situation, there are rules which are just understood - everyone faces forward in an elevator, for example. But the world is definitely more chaotic and seemingly less interested in those unspoken rules than they used to be, especially where there is alcohol involved.
I think a lot of people have never considered that musicians have sacrificed a life of safety and comfort to make music. Retirement funds, health insurance, a blazingly-fast computer - these fall by the wayside because the musician MUST produce, must make their art.
So yeah, show some respect, chatty people!
Thank you Raws
I have done stand-up comedy and theater in these loud environments. Not only is it rude to those TRYING to hear what’s going on, it also makes it harder for the talent to concentrate…
If those in the audience think it easy; let them try. Most folks are far too afraid to even attempt anything. Give those performing the respect due for doing things beyond the yakker’s abilities.